Speaking skill can best be developed by enabling the learners

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Speaking is a productive skill, meaning it involves actively producing language. According to communicative language teaching (CLT) principles, the most effective way to develop a productive skill like speaking is through meaningful use, practice, and interaction. When learners are enabled "to communicate in real-life situations," they are provided with authentic contexts and genuine motivations to use the language. This necessity forces them to organize their thoughts, articulate them clearly, manage conversational flow, and respond spontaneously, all of which are critical components of fluency and communicative competence. This active, goal-oriented practice is far superior to passive or receptive methods for developing practical speaking ability.

The incorrect option is 1:
While listening is crucial for language acquisition and provides models for pronunciation and intonation, simply "listening to others speak" makes the learner a passive recipient. Speaking requires active production, which cannot be developed merely by observing others; it requires the learner to engage in the act of speaking themselves.

The incorrect option is 3:
"To read interesting novels" primarily helps develop receptive skills like reading and vocabulary knowledge. Reading comprehension and vocabulary are important foundational elements, but they do not provide the necessary practice for spontaneous oral production, articulation, and real-time interaction, which defines the speaking skill.

The incorrect option is 4:
"To follow the teacher's model" is useful for correcting pronunciation and sentence structure, especially in drilling exercises. However, relying solely on modeling does not foster the spontaneous and creative use of language needed for real-life communication; it often leads to mimicry rather than genuine communicative competence.